The Putnam Board of Education on Tuesday took steps to fund school security upgrades.

The board voted to use $8,500 from its facilities account to install a new locking system in the town’s middle and elementary schools. That upgrade is scheduled to be made during the district’s February vacation, Superintendent William Hull said.

The board also authorized Hull to request $60,000 from the Board of Finance later this month for an expanded video monitoring system which would enhance existing surveillance. Hull said the upgrade would cost roughly $25,000 for each school building.

Board members asked that the video system funding be requested first from the town. If that proposal is rejected, Hull is to request the funding be allocated from a gate receipt account, which is replenished from profits from school sporting event tickets.

The finance board meets next on Jan. 28.

Board Chairman Michael Morrill said it’s difficult to discuss other large security expenditures right now without a clearer sense of what proposals the state and federal government may make in the coming months.

“For instance, the president is considering funding for school resource officers,” Morrill said. “If we decided to spend the money tonight on those officers, we’d be effectively ineligible for that kind of grant.”

The board met hours after Putnam police arrested a juvenile in connection with a threat against the town’s middle school — the fourth such incident in the last week.

Police Chief Rick Hayes said officers and school officials were tipped off that “inappropriate and alarming” comments were posted on a student’s Facebook page. Hayes said the individual was referred to the Windham County Juvenile Court and charged with breach of peace.

According to police, the student alluded to a bomb threat made last week.

Tuesday’s arrest was the second in as many days, with another juvenile arrested Monday for allegedly making a bomb threat against the school last week.

That threat prompted state and Putnam police police dog teams to sweep the middle and elementary schools early Monday. Student backpacks were also checked by staff, though classes began as scheduled.

Two other threats were made against the buildings last week and Hayes said arrests in those incidents are expected as the investigation continues.

Hull said such incidents can come in cycles, with “copycatters” sometimes piggy-backing on the original threats.

“Students and parents did exactly what they were supposed to do in this case,” Hull said. “They saw something construed as a threat and they brought it to the attention of the administration, who then notified the police.”

Hull said letters are being sent to parents alerting them to the incidents and staff will continue reinforcing the importance of vigilance.

Page 2 of 2 - “Middle school kids — all kids — sometimes do dumb things,” he said. “But we need to take anything like this seriously. If we don’t, we’d be remiss in our duties.”